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This second edition of Reclaiming a Scientific Anthropology arrives
at just the right time, as new advances in science increasingly
affect anthropologists of all stripes. Lawrence Kuznar begins by
reviewing the basic issues of scientific epistemology in
anthropology as they have taken shape over the life of the
discipline. He then describes postmodern and other critiques of
both science and scientific anthropology, and he concludes with
stringent analyses of these debates. This new edition brings this
important text firmly into the 21st century; it not only updates
the scholarly debates but it describes new research techniques such
as computer modeling systems that could not have been imagined just
a decade ago. In a field that has become increasingly divided over
basic methods of reasearch and interpretation, Kuznar makes a
powerful argument that anthropology should return to its roots in
empirical science.
"A thought-provoking, stimulating volume on the past, present and
future of cultural materialism that is both laudatory of Harris'
research strategy and critical of it." Paul Shankman, University of
Colorado One of the most important anthropologists of all time,
Marvin Harris was influential worldwide as the founder of cultural
materialism. This book accessibly analyzes Harris's theories and
their important legacies today. The chapters explore cultural
materialism's epistemology and its relation to rational choice
theory, Darwinian social science, and population pressures. The
authors assess recent attempts to extend and reformulate cultural
materialism and highlight cross-cultural, archaeological, and
ethnographic applications of cultural materialism today.
"A thought-provoking, stimulating volume on the past, present and
future of cultural materialism that is both laudatory of Harris'
research strategy and critical of it." Paul Shankman, University of
Colorado One of the most important anthropologists of all time,
Marvin Harris was influential worldwide as the founder of cultural
materialism. This book accessibly analyzes Harris's theories and
their important legacies today. The chapters explore cultural
materialism's epistemology and its relation to rational choice
theory, Darwinian social science, and population pressures. The
authors assess recent attempts to extend and reformulate cultural
materialism and highlight cross-cultural, archaeological, and
ethnographic applications of cultural materialism today.
In the quarter century since Wallerstein first developed world
systems theory (WST), scholars in a variety of disciplines have
adopted the approach to explain intersocietal interaction on a
grand scale. These essays bring to light archaeological data and
analysis to show that many historic and prehistoric states lacked
the mechanisms to dominate the distant (and in some cases, nearby)
societies with which they interacted. Core/periphery exploitation
needs to be demonstrated, not simply assumed, as the
interdisciplinary dialogue which occurs in this volume
demonstrates. World-Systems Theory in Practice will appeal to
individuals with an interest in the application of WST in both the
Old World and the New World. The papers in this volume reflect the
vitality of the debate concerning the use of such generalizing
theories and will be of interest to archeologists, anthropologists,
historians, sociologists, and those involved in the study of
civilizations.
A strong advocate for anthropology as a science, Lawrence Kuznar
reviews the recent challenges to this ideology from creationists
and 'scientific' racists on one side and postmodernists, marxists
and feminists on the other. Moreover, Kuznar provides a brief
review of anthropology as a science, summarizes major theoretical
works in anthropology and other fields on the science/humanism
debate, and offers several important case examples from cultural
anthropology and archaeology showing science in action. An
interesting, provocative book for anthropologists and ideal for
advanced undergraduate and graduate classes in theory and method.
Andean South America offers significant anthropological insights
into highland and arid zone adaptations, including pastoralist
economy and ecology, settlement patterns, site formation processes,
tool manufacture, and the cultural meanings of landscapes. The 16
papers in this volume present detailed studies of economics and
production, caravanning and trade, ceramic manufacture and use
life, patterns of settlement and mobility among highland and
lowland pastoralists and horticulturalists, taphonomy, and sacred
landscapes. The epistomological foundations of ethnoarchaeology,
archaeological uses of ethnoarchaeology, and the relationship
between environment and culture are important theoretical themes.
Beyond those interested in Andean South America, this volume will
be of use to anyone who studies human adaptations to highland or
arid environments, and to those interested in pastoral societies.
From the Mind to the Feet: Assessing the Perception-to-Intentto-
Action Dynamic is an interagency, multidisciplinary collection of
12 essays addressing operational and academic perspectives on the
elusive concept of an adversary's "intent"-its indicators and
relation to behavior. It is primarily intended for the operational
and policy community in the Department of Defense, the intelligence
community, the Department of Homeland Security, and other US
government agencies. The authors are from the intelligence
community, the military services, US government agencies, federally
funded research and development centers, academia, and the private
sector. The purpose of From the Mind to the Feet is to open a much
deeper dialogue about gauging intent than currently exists either
in operational or academic arenas. It is intended to serve military
and civilian defense leaders, deterrence and policy planners, and
practitioners with a review of the basic concepts and
state-of-the-art understanding of intent. It is organized into two
sections: operational and academic perspectives on intent. Air
University Press.
The 12 essays in this volume examine the concept of intent in
defense, security, and foreign-policy contexts. They provide
operational and academic perspectives on measuring the intent of
adversaries, including nation-states and nonstate actors, and
understanding the relationship of intent to behavior. The essays
apply the insights and methods of multiple
disciplines-anthropology, psychology, political science,
neuroscience, and others-to the study of intent, for which there is
currently no coherent body of research. As Lt Gen Robert Elder,
USAF, retired, notes, we are good at estimating an adversary's
capabilities but not as good at estimating his intent. To influence
an adversary's behavior, we must understand the
perception-to-intent-to-action dynamic that underlies his behavior.
This collection of essays, which emerged from a Department of
Defense Strategic Multilayer Assessment, provides perspectives for
doing so. The authors represent multiple agencies and fields of
study; some are academics, and some are military subject-matter
experts. Their expertise includes decision and behavioral analysis,
social psychology, warfare and military strategy, political
behavior, applications of neuroscience to behavioral studies,
foreign policy, and antiterrorism.
Andean South America offers significant anthropological insights
into highland and arid zone adaptations, including pastoralist
economy and ecology, settlement patterns, site formation processes,
tool manufacture, and the cultural meanings of landscapes. The 16
papers in this volume present detailed studies of economics and
production, caravanning and trade, ceramic manufacture and use
life, patterns of settlement and mobility among highland and
lowland pastoralists and horticulturalists, taphonomy, and sacred
landscapes. The epistomological foundations of ethnoarchaeology,
archaeological uses of ethnoarchaeology, and the relationship
between environment and culture are important theoretical themes.
Beyond those interested in Andean South America, this volume will
be of use to anyone who studies human adaptations to highland or
arid environments, and to those interested in pastoral societies.
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